Support member and method of installing a turbine assembly using the same

ABSTRACT

A support member for supporting a turbine assembly during installation is provided. The support member includes a platform having a plurality of modular platform components oriented to define an upper surface of the platform. The support member also includes a linear actuator selectively positionable on the upper surface of the platform. The support member further includes a column selectively positionable on the linear actuator. The platform, the linear actuator, and the column are sized to support the turbine assembly.

BACKGROUND

The field of this disclosure relates generally to support members and,more particularly, to a support member for use with a turbine assembly.

At least some known turbine assemblies are installed on a frame that iserected from a foundation. Due to the large size of at least some knownturbine assemblies, it is common to install a turbine assembly on aframe by first lifting the turbine assembly onto adjustable brackets(e.g., fixators) that project above the frame, and then lowering theturbine assembly onto the frame using the brackets. However, it can bedifficult for the crane operator to accurately position the turbineassembly on the brackets, in that the crane operator visually aligns theturbine assembly with the brackets when lowering the turbine assemblyonto the brackets. It is therefore common for the turbine assembly to besomewhat misaligned when lowered onto the brackets, and greater degreesof misalignment can result in damage to the turbine assembly, thebrackets, and/or the frame, which may significantly delay the overallinstallation schedule.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, a support member for supporting a turbine assembly duringinstallation is provided. The support member includes a platform havinga plurality of modular platform components oriented to define an uppersurface of the platform. The support member also includes a linearactuator selectively positionable on the upper surface of the platform.The support member further includes a column selectively positionable onthe linear actuator. The platform, the linear actuator, and the columnare sized to support the turbine assembly.

In another aspect, a method of installing a turbine assembly using asupport member is provided. The method includes assembling a platformfrom a plurality of modular platform components such that the platformcomponents define an upper surface of the platform. The method alsoincludes positioning a linear actuator on the upper surface of theplatform, and positioning a column on the linear actuator. The methodfurther includes lifting the turbine assembly onto the column such thata base of the turbine assembly is seated on the column.

In another aspect, a support system for supporting a turbine assemblyduring installation is provided. The support system includes a pair offirst support members and a second support member selectivelypositionable relative to the first support members in a generallytriangular arrangement. The second support member includes a platform, alinear actuator selectively positionable on the platform, and a columnselectively positionable on the linear actuator. The platform, thelinear actuator, and the column are sized to support the turbineassembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary turbine assemblyduring installation;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary support member that may beused with a support system when installing the turbine assembly shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a platform used with the support membershown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the platform shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a column used with the support membershown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the column shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the support member shown in FIG. 2as it is being used to install the turbine assembly shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description illustrates exemplary support membersand methods of their use by way of example and not by way of limitation.The description should enable one of ordinary skill in the art to makeand use the support members, and the description describes severalexemplary embodiments of the support members. An exemplary supportmember is described herein in conjunction with the installation of aturbine assembly. However, it is contemplated that the support memberhas general application to a broad range of systems in a variety offields other than turbine assemblies.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary turbine assembly 100during installation at a site 110 (e.g., a power plant). In theexemplary embodiment, turbine assembly 100 is a gas turbine assemblythat includes a casing 102 that includes a combustor casing segment 104and a turbine casing segment 106. A base 108 of turbine assembly 100 iscoupled to casing 102 for structurally supporting casing 102 whenturbine assembly 100 is transported to site 110 on a vehicle 112 suchas, for example, a truck (i.e., base 108 structurally supports casing102 on vehicle 112 to inhibit casing 102 from bending as a result ofvibrations generated when vehicle 112 travels to site 110). Base 108includes a plurality of base members 113 by which turbine assembly 100is supported on vehicle 112. In the exemplary embodiment, members 113include a pair of first base members 114 and a second base member 116(e.g., a gib) that are arranged in a generally triangular arrangement,wherein first base members 114 are beneath turbine casing segment 106,and second base member 116 is beneath combustor casing segment 104. Inother embodiments, turbine assembly 100 may be any suitable type ofturbine assembly (e.g., a steam turbine assembly) that is transported tosite 110 via any suitable transportation method (e.g., by train), andbase 108 may include any suitable number of base members arranged in anysuitable orientation that enables turbine assembly 100 to be installedas described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, a frame 118 is erected from a foundation120 at site 110, and turbine assembly 100 is mounted on frame 118 whenturbine assembly 100 is installed at site 110. However, because of theweight of turbine assembly 100 (e.g., turbine assembly 100 can weigh inexcess of four hundred tons in some embodiments), turbine assembly 100may need to be accurately positioned on frame 118 to prevent damagingframe 118. As such, a support system 122 is temporarily erected at site110 to facilitate positioning turbine assembly 100 on frame 118. Morespecifically, turbine assembly 100 is lifted onto support system 122using a crane 124, and turbine assembly 100 is then transferred fromsupport system 122 onto frame 118 using, for example, a plurality ofadjustable brackets (not shown), as described below.

Support system 122 is designed to temporarily position turbine assembly100 elevated above foundation 120 such that turbine assembly 100 can bemaneuvered, aligned, and coupled to foundation 120 with a level ofaccuracy that is difficult to achieve using only crane 124. In theexemplary embodiment, support system 122 includes a plurality of supportmembers 125. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, members 125include a pair of first support members 126 and a second support member128 that are arranged in a generally triangular orientation thatsubstantially mirrors the generally triangular arrangement of basemembers 114 and 116. As such, each first support member 126 is orientedto receive one of the first base members 114, and second support member128 is oriented to receive second base member 116. In other embodiments,support system 122 may include any suitable number of support membersarranged in any suitable orientation that facilitates enabling supportsystem 122 to function as described herein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary support member 200 that maybe used with support system 122 when installing turbine assembly 100(shown in FIG. 1) (e.g., support member 200 is particularly suited foruse as second support member 128 in support system 122). Notably, whenturbine assembly 100 is lifted onto support system 122 using crane 124(shown in FIG. 1), and when turbine assembly 100 is transferred fromsupport system 122 onto foundation 120 (shown in FIG. 1), turbineassembly 100 is maneuverable in three dimensions, namely a vertical (orup-and-down) dimension along an X-axis 202, a first horizontal (orside-to-side) dimension along a Y-axis 204, and a second horizontal (orfront-to-rear) dimension along a Z-axis 206 that are orientedperpendicular to one another, such that a three-dimensional space isdefined in which turbine assembly 100 is maneuverable duringinstallation.

In the exemplary embodiment, support member 200 includes a platform 208that is selectively positionable on foundation 120 (or another suitablestructure positioned on, or partly embedded in, foundation 120), alinear actuator 210 that is selectively positionable on platform 208,and a column 212 that is selectively positionable on linear actuator210. When support member 200 is assembled as illustrated, platform 208,linear actuator 210, and column 212 are in a stacked arrangement.Although linear actuator 210 is a hydraulic-type linear actuator (e.g.,a pancake lock nut cylinder) in the exemplary embodiment, linearactuator 210 may be of any suitable type that facilitates enablingsupport member 200 to function as described herein (e.g., linearactuator 210 may be a pneumatic-type linear actuator, or amechanical-type linear actuator in other embodiments).

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respective perspective and exploded views of platform208. In the exemplary embodiment, platform 208 includes a plurality ofmodular platform components 213. More specifically, in the exemplaryembodiment, components 213 include a first platform component 214, asecond platform component 216, and a third platform component 218.Although platform 208 includes three components 213 in the exemplaryembodiment, platform 208 may have any suitable number of components 213that facilitates enabling platform 208 to function as described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, first platform component 214 includes anupper plate 220, a lower plate 222, and a plurality of spaced-apartposts 224 that extend between plates 220 and 222. Upper plate 220 has anouter edge 226, an inner edge 228, and a substantially planar uppersurface 229 that extends therebetween, such that inner edge 228circumscribes an upper opening 230. Similarly, lower plate 222 includesan outer edge 232 and an inner edge 234 oriented such that inner edge234 circumscribes a lower opening 236 that is approximately the samesize as upper opening 230. Although outer edges 226 and 232 are annularin the exemplary embodiment, outer edges 226 and 232 may have any othersuitable shape in other embodiments (e.g., outer edges 226 and 232 maydefine a polygonal shape in some embodiments). Additionally, althoughinner edges 228 and 234 are annular in the exemplary embodiment, inneredges 228 and 234 may be segmented and/or may be formed in any othersuitable shape, and may define openings 230 and 236 with any other shapein other embodiments (e.g., inner edges 228 and 234 may have a polygonalshape in some embodiments, and/or may define respective openings 230 and236 that are not the same shape in some embodiments). Moreover, firstplatform component 214 may include any suitable number of posts 224 thatfacilitates enabling first platform component 214 to function asdescribed herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, second platform component 216 includes anupper plate 238, a lower plate 240, and a plurality of spaced-apartposts 242 that extend between plates 238 and 240. Upper plate 238 has anouter edge 244, an inner edge 246, and a substantially planar uppersurface 247 that extends therebetween, such that inner edge 246circumscribes an upper opening 248. Similarly, lower plate 240 includesan outer edge 250 and an inner edge 252, such that inner edge 252circumscribes a lower opening 254 that is approximately the same size asupper opening 248. Although outer edges 244 and 250 are annular in theexemplary embodiment, outer edges 244 and 250 may have any othersuitable shape in other embodiments (e.g., outer edges 244 and 250 mayhave a polygonal shape in some embodiments). Additionally, althoughinner edges 246 and 252 are annular in the exemplary embodiment, inneredges 246 and 252 may be segmented and/or may be formed in any othersuitable shape, and may define openings 248 and 254 with any other shapein other embodiments (e.g., inner edges 246 and 252 may have a polygonalshape in some embodiments, and/or may define respective openings 248 and254 that are not the same shape in some embodiments). Moreover, secondplatform component 216 may include any suitable number of posts 242 thatfacilitates enabling second platform component 216 to function asdescribed herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, third platform component 218 includes anupper plate 258, a lower plate 260, and a post 262 that extend betweenplates 258 and 260. Upper plate 258 has an outer edge 264 that extendsaround the periphery of a continuous and substantially planar uppersurface 266, and lower plate 260 has an outer edge 268 that extendsaround the periphery of a substantially planar lower surface 270. Post262 is generally centrally located between plates 258 and 260 such thatthird platform component 218 has a generally I-shaped cross-section. Inother embodiments, upper surface 266 may not be continuous (e.g., uppersurface 266 may have at least one aperture defined therein). Moreover,although third platform component 218 is generally I-shaped in theexemplary embodiment, third platform component 218 may have any othersuitable shape in other embodiments (e.g., post 262 may not be generallycentrally located between plates 258 and 260, or third platformcomponent 218 may include a plurality of spaced-apart posts 262 betweenplates 258 and 260).

To assemble platform, second platform component 216 is nested withinfirst platform component 214 by inserting second platform component 216through upper opening 230 of first platform component 214 and into loweropening 236 of first platform component 214. When fully nested, lowerplates 222 and 240 are each substantially aligned, and upper plates 220and 238 are each substantially aligned. Third platform component 218 isthen nested within second platform component 216 by inserting thirdplatform component 218 through upper opening 248 of second platformcomponent 216 and into lower opening 254 of second platform component216. When third platform component 218 is fully nested, lower plates 240and 260 are each substantially aligned, and upper plates 238 and 258 areeach substantially aligned. Notably, upper surface 229 of first platformcomponent 214 is substantially coplanar with upper surface 247 of secondplatform component 216 and with upper surface 266 of third platformcomponent 218. As such, upper surfaces 229, 247, and 266 are oriented tocollectively define a substantially planar upper surface 272 of platform208 within the bounds of outer edge 226. In other embodiments, anysuitable number of platform components 213 of various shapes and/orsizes may be oriented in any suitable modular arrangement relative toone another to collectively define upper surface 272 (e.g., platformcomponents 213 may be positioned adjacent to one another, but may not benested within one another, to define upper surface 272).

FIGS. 5 and 6 are respective perspective and cross-sectional views ofcolumn 212. In the exemplary embodiment, column 212 includes a pluralityof modular column components 273. More specifically, in the exemplaryembodiment, components 273 include an upper component 274 and at leastone base component 276 beneath upper component 274. Upper component 274has a generally tubular body 278 and a pair of handles 280 extendingoutward from body 278. More specifically, body 278 has a lower surface282, an upper surface 284, and a side surface 286 from which handles 280extend. Lower and upper surfaces 282 and 284, respectively, are eachsubstantially planar, and are oriented substantially parallel to oneanother. Alternatively, lower surface 282 may be contoured or may beskewed relative to upper surface 284 (e.g., lower surface 282 may not beoriented substantially parallel to upper surface 284). Moreover,although body 278 is generally cylindrical (e.g., surfaces 282 and 284are substantially circular) in the exemplary embodiment, body 278 mayhave any other suitable shape in other embodiments (e.g., surfaces 282and 284 may be square, rectangular, or triangular in other embodiments).

In the exemplary embodiment, column 212 includes a plurality of basecomponents 276. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment,components 276 include a first base component 288, a second basecomponent 290, a third base component 292, and a fourth base component294. In the exemplary embodiment, base components 276 are the same sizeand shape as each other and, thus, their respective positions withincolumn 212 are interchangeable. For example, in the exemplaryembodiment, the relative positions of first base component 288 andfourth base component 294 could be switched, and/or the relativepositions of second base component 290 and third base component 292could be switched. More specifically, each base component 276 has adisc-shaped body 296 and a pair of handles 297 that extend outward frombody 296. Body 296 has an upper surface 298, a lower surface 299, and aside surface 295 from which handles 297 extend. Lower surface 299includes a protruding central region 293 that is substantially the samesize and shape, and/or is contoured similarly, as lower surface 282 ofupper component 274. Upper surface 298 is formed with a recessed centralregion 291 that is sized to receive (and thereby engage) lower surface282 of upper component 274 and, therefore, lower surface 299 of eachbase component 276 in a mating relationship. Alternatively, basecomponents 276 may be sized, shaped, and/or contoured in any suitablemanner that facilitates enabling base components 276 to beinterchangeably positioned beneath upper component 274 in the manner setforth herein. Moreover, although column 212 includes five components inthe exemplary embodiment, column 212 may have any other number ofcomponents that facilitates enabling column 212 to function as describedherein.

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of support member 200 as it is beingused to install turbine assembly 100 (shown in FIG. 1) (i.e., afterturbine assembly 100 has already been lifted onto support system 122using crane 124 during the installation of turbine assembly 100 at site110, as shown in FIG. 1). In the exemplary embodiment, support member200 functions as second support member 128 (shown in FIG. 1) of supportsystem 122 (also shown in FIG. 1). When turbine assembly 100 is beinglifted onto support system 122 using crane 124, second base member 116of base 108 (shown in FIG. 1) needs to be accurately aligned withsupport member 200 along a plane 300 oriented substantially parallel toY-axis 204 (shown in FIG. 2) and Z-axis 206 (also shown in FIG. 2). Tofacilitate such alignment, support member 200 is assembled on foundation120 by a person (not shown) standing beneath turbine assembly 100 whenturbine assembly 100 is suspended above support system 122 using crane124.

Because platform 208 is designed to support the weight of turbineassembly 100, platform 208 may be fabricated from a metal material suchthat that the overall weight of platform 208 is difficult for one person(or multiple people) to lift by hand. However, because platform 208 ismodular as described above, platform 208 is designed to be lifted andpositioned on foundation 120 one component at a time, and without theassistance of power lifting equipment such as a crane (not shown).Platform 208 can thus be moved by hand into position beneath second basemember 116 along plane 300 when turbine assembly 100 is suspended abovesupport system 122, such that platform components 213 (shown in FIG. 4)are arranged in a nested manner and oriented as shown in FIG. 3 tocollectively define upper surface 272 of platform 208 beneath secondbase member 116. Optionally, to further facilitate handling platformcomponents 213, at least one platform component 213 (e.g., firstplatform component 214) may have a plurality of sections 215 that can beindividually lifted and seated in abutment with one another atrespective joints 217, as shown in FIG. 4.

With turbine assembly 100 suspended above platform 208 using crane 124such that platform 208 is aligned with second base member 116 alongplane 300, linear actuator 210 is then seated on upper surface 272underneath second base member 116. Notably, because it can be difficultfor the operator of crane 124 to align second base member 116 overlinear actuator 210 with accuracy, the person assembling support member200 can manually move linear actuator 210 to any location on uppersurface 272 by visually aligning linear actuator 210 with second basemember 116 along plane 300 (e.g., linear actuator 210 can have anoff-center location on upper surface 272 in some instances). In thatregard, the modular nature of platform 208 facilitates manuallyincreasing or decreasing the size of upper surface 272 as appropriate,which in turn facilitates increasing or decreasing the range for movinglinear actuator 210 into alignment with second base member 116. In otherwords, the modular nature of platform 208 facilitates making platform208 large enough to permit moving linear actuator 210 to variouslocations on upper surface 272 in a manner that accommodatesmisalignment of second base member 116 by the operator of crane 124,while still allowing the person assembling support member 200 to moveplatform 208 by hand.

After linear actuator 210 is positioned beneath second base member 116,column 212 is positioned on linear actuator 210 to increase the heightof support member 200 along X-axis 202, thereby reducing the distancethat turbine assembly 100 needs to be lowered in order for second basemember 116 to contact support member 200. Because column 212 is designedto support the weight of turbine assembly 100, the overall weight ofcolumn 212 may make column 212 difficult for one person (or multiplepeople) to lift by hand. However, like platform 208, column 212 has amodular design as described above, and therefore can be lifted intoplace one component at a time, without the assistance of power liftingequipment such as a crane (not shown). More specifically, basecomponent(s) 276 of column 212 are first positioned on linear actuator210, and upper component 274 of column 212 is then positioned on basecomponent(s) 276.

If linear actuator 210 and column 212 subsequently need to berepositioned on upper surface 272 (e.g., if the operator of crane 124moves turbine assembly 100 out of alignment), linear actuator 210 andcolumn 212 can be repositioned on upper surface 272 as desired. Forexample, linear actuator 210 and column 212 can be repositioned togetheras a single unit (e.g., by sliding linear actuator 210 along uppersurface 272 with column 212 seated on linear actuator 210), or linearactuator 210 and column 212 can be repositioned individually as separateunits (e.g., column 212 can be disassembled and removed from linearactuator 210 to lift or slide linear actuator 210 along upper surface272, and column 212 can then be reassembled on linear actuator 210 atthe new position). Moreover, the number of base components 276 that arepositioned beneath upper component 274 is selectable to suit a desiredheight of support member 200 along X-axis 202 (i.e., more basecomponents 276 may be added/removed to increase/decrease the height ofsupport member 200 as desired). For example, in one embodiment, column212 may be assembled without any base components 276 (i.e., uppercomponent 274 may be seated directly on linear actuator 210). In otherembodiments, column 212 may be assembled to have only one base component276, or column 212 may be assembled with more than four base components276. Alternatively, support member 200 may be assembled without column212 (i.e., without upper component 274 and without base component(s)276) such that linear actuator 210 is positioned at the top of supportmember 200 for directly engaging turbine assembly 100 (e.g., base 108),as set forth in more detail below.

After support member 200 is fully assembled in alignment beneath secondbase member 116, turbine assembly 100 is then lowered toward supportsystem 122 until second base member 116 contacts upper surface 284 ofupper component 274. With turbine assembly 100 resting on support member200 in this manner, turbine assembly 100 (e.g., base 108) can then beengaged from the front/rear along Z-axis 206, from the side(s) alongY-axis 204, and/or from underneath along X-axis 202 using a plurality ofadjustable brackets (e.g., suitable fixators) (not shown), and supportmember 200 can then be disassembled, partly lowered (via linear actuator210), or otherwise removed from contacting second base member 116.

With support member 200 no longer supporting turbine assembly 100, theadjustable brackets are then operable to further maneuver turbineassembly 100 while it is elevated above frame 118 (shown in FIG. 1), andthen to seat turbine assembly 100 on frame 118 (e.g., by shiftingturbine assembly 100 forward-and-rearward along Z-axis 206 and/orshifting turbine assembly 100 side-to-side along Y-axis 204, and thenlowering turbine assembly 100 onto frame 118 along X-axis 202). Notably,by seating turbine assembly 100 on support system 122 (e.g., on supportmember 200) before engaging turbine assembly 100 with the adjustablebrackets, the adjustable brackets can be operated to engage turbineassembly 100 (e.g., base 108) while turbine assembly 100 is at rest, asopposed to engaging turbine assembly 100 while turbine assembly 100 issuspended using crane 124 alone. Thus, support system 122 (e.g., supportmember 200) facilitates reducing the risk of turbine assembly 100 beingreleased by crane 124 onto the adjustable brackets with turbine assembly100 misaligned relative to the adjustable brackets, thereby damaging theadjustable brackets beneath the weight of turbine assembly 100. Such ascenario could cause significant delay in the installation process bynecessitating removal of turbine assembly 100, repair of the adjustablebrackets, and/or repositioning of turbine assembly 100.

The methods and systems described herein provide a support member foruse when positioning heavy objects with accuracy and precision. Forexample, the methods and systems provide a support member for use inelevating a turbine assembly during installation. More specifically, themethods and systems provide a support member that can be assembled andrepositioned beneath a turbine assembly, without having to lift thesupport member into position using power lifting equipment, such as acrane. Additionally, the methods and systems facilitate accuratelypositioning a turbine assembly on a support system using a crane, suchthat the turbine assembly can be engaged by adjustable brackets forfurther maneuvering of the turbine assembly and seating of the turbineassembly on its frame. Thus, the methods and systems facilitateinstalling a turbine assembly on its frame with less risk of damagingthe adjustable brackets used to shift the turbine assembly into positionrelative to the frame. As such, the methods and systems facilitatereducing the time needed to install a turbine assembly by, for example,reducing the risk of delays that may otherwise occur when improperlypositioning the turbine assembly on its adjustable brackets and/or itsframe. The methods and systems therefore facilitate reducing the cost ofinstalling a turbine assembly.

Exemplary embodiments of methods and systems are described above indetail. The methods and systems described herein are not limited to thespecific embodiments described herein, but rather, steps of the methodsand components of the systems may be utilized independently andseparately from other method steps and system components describedherein. For example, the methods and systems described herein may haveother applications not limited to practice with turbine assemblies.Rather, the methods and systems described herein can be implemented andutilized in connection with various other industries.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specificembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A support member for supporting a turbineassembly during installation, said support member comprising: a platformcomprising a plurality of modular platform components oriented to definean upper surface of said platform; a linear actuator selectivelypositionable on said upper surface of said platform; and a columnselectively positionable on said linear actuator, wherein said platform,said linear actuator, and said column are sized to support said turbineassembly.
 2. A support member in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidplatform components are nestable.
 3. A support member in accordance withclaim 2, wherein each of said platform components comprises an upperplate, a lower plate, and at least one post extending between saidplates.
 4. A support member in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidcolumn comprises a plurality of modular column components.
 5. A supportmember in accordance with claim 4, wherein said plurality of modularcolumn components comprises an upper component and a plurality of basecomponents that are interchangeably positionable beneath said uppercomponent.
 6. A support member in accordance with claim 4, wherein eachof said column components comprises a handle.
 7. A support member inaccordance with claim 4, wherein said column components are engageablein a mating relationship.
 8. A support member in accordance with claim1, wherein said linear actuator is a hydraulic linear actuator.
 9. Amethod of installing a turbine assembly using a support member, saidmethod comprising: assembling a platform from a plurality of modularplatform components such that the platform components define an uppersurface of the platform; positioning a linear actuator on the uppersurface of the platform; positioning a column on the linear actuator;and lifting the turbine assembly onto the column such that a base of theturbine assembly is seated on the column.
 10. A method in accordancewith claim 9, further comprising nesting one of the platform componentswithin another of the platform components.
 11. A method in accordancewith claim 10, further comprising assembling one of the nested platformcomponents from a plurality of sections.
 12. A method in accordance withclaim 9, further comprising assembling the column from a plurality ofcolumn components.
 13. A method in accordance with claim 12, furthercomprising stacking a plurality of base components of the column beneathan upper component of the column.
 14. A method in accordance with claim12, further comprising engaging the column components with one anotherin a mating relationship.
 15. A method in accordance with claim 9,further comprising lifting the column using a handle of the column. 16.A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein positioning a linearactuator on the upper surface of the platform comprises positioning ahydraulic linear actuator on the upper surface of the platform.
 17. Amethod in accordance with claim 9, further comprising lifting theturbine assembly onto the column using a crane.
 18. A method inaccordance with claim 9, wherein the base of the turbine assembly has aplurality of base members arranged in a generally triangulararrangement, said method further comprising: positioning the supportmember in a generally triangular arrangement of support members suchthat the generally triangular arrangement of support memberssubstantially mirrors the generally triangular arrangement of the basemembers.
 19. A method in accordance with claim 9, further comprisingsupporting the turbine assembly above a frame via the platform, thelinear actuator, and the column.
 20. A support system for supporting aturbine assembly during installation, said support system comprising: apair of first support members; and a second support member selectivelypositionable relative to said first support members in a generallytriangular arrangement, said second support member comprising aplatform, a linear actuator selectively positionable on said platform,and a column selectively positionable on said linear actuator, whereinsaid platform, said linear actuator, and said column are sized tosupport said turbine assembly.